Monthly Archives: February 2014

I made bread today. This is the same recipe my mom learned when she was a young girl. She then taught it to me. I in turn taught it to my daughter. Now, I make the bread with my grandchildren. There’s nothing like the smell of bread baking on a cold winter day and nothing like a piece of bread hot out of the oven covered with melting butter. I have so many wonderful memories of making this bread when I was a young girl.

This is a really simple, inexpensive recipe. I’ve never owned a bread machine, nor do I ever intend on buying one. I love the process of kneading and letting the dough rise. It’s a most rewarding activity on a quiet Friday night or a Sunday afternoon. Keeps the house nice and warm too.

CHALE (EGG BREAD)

8 CUPS FLOUR (2 POUNDS)

2 YEAST CAKES

1/2 TEASPOON SUGAR

3/4 CUP LUKEWARM WATER

2 EGGS (LARGE)

1/2 CUP OIL

1 TABLESPOON SALT

1/3 CUP SUGAR

2 CUPS LUKEWARM WATER

Sift
flour into a large bowl. In a small bowl crumble yeast with 1/2 teas.
sugar, in 3/4 cup lukewarm water and stir. Let stand 5 minutes (cover
with a cloth). Make a well in the flour and with a knife stir in yeast
mixture. Let stand for a hal\f hour to rise. Drop eggs, oil, salt and
sugar, and lukewarm water into well. By hand mix and knead
for 10 minutes. Knead thoroughly until
smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl and turn once to coat the
dough. Cover bowl with damp cloth and let stand until almost double
(put the bowl in a warm place. I turn on the oven and put the bowl on
my kitchen counter). Punch down, knead again 2 minutes. Let rise again
until almost double. Punch down and knead again for a minute. Then
cut the dough intostrands, three at a time. Roll out the strands until they reach about 9 inches long each. Then tag
the three at the top to each other and braid them. Tag the ends
together. Repeat making braided loaves with the remaining dough. Place
loaves on greased pans or bread pans (I use both). Let rise for
another hour. Brush with beaten egg sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds
(optional). Place in cold oven (This is what the recipe says but I
don’t do it. I preheat the oven). Turn heat to 400, and then after 15
minutes reduce heat to 375. Bake for 25 minutes longer until golden brown.
Remove from pan at once. Cool on rack.Let me know how your bread comes out. Most importantly: enjoy!